Power-shaft coupling.



No. 707,357. Patented Au l9, I902.

. 4 0. nunu.

POWE R SHAFT COUPLING.

(Application filed Mar. 17, 1902.)

(N0 Model.)

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OLE RUDD, OF WEST DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

POWER-SHAFT COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 707,357, dated August19, 1902.

Application filed March 17, 1902.

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OLE RUDD, a citizen of the United States, residingat West Duluth, in the county of St. Louis and State of Minnesota, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Power-Shaft Couplings;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Myinvention relates to couplings for powershafts, and has for its objectthe provision of a coupling with which two sections of a shaft may bereadily and quickly coupled without projecting bolt heads or nuts.

It consists of cooperating collars secured, respectively, upon theopposing ends of adjoining sections of the shaft and formed withengaging faces by which one collar is adapted to mesh with the oppositecollar and of keywedges or locking-pins to lock said collars inengagement.

It also consists of certain other constructions, combinations, andarrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter more particularly setforth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an end elevation of onesection of theshaft, showing one of the coupling-collars appliedthereto. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the end of the opposingshaft-section with its coupling-collar in position. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a portion of the sections of the shaft with theircoupling-collars in position and separate. Fig. 4 is a similar view, butshowing the couplingcollars applied together. Fig. 5 is a sectional viewthrough the coupling-collars applied together, the shaft-sections beingshown in elevation; and Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of one ofthe key-wedges employed in looking the couplingcollars together.

It has been found desirable in the construction of power-shaft couplingsto. obviate the use of all fastening means-which project from thecoupling and which are liable to engage the clothing of attendants andalso to minimize the number of parts involved without impairing thestrength of the construction. To effect this purpose, I construct thecollar Serial No. 98,613. (No model.)

A, adapted to receive the end of a section E of a power-shaft, whichcollar is enlarged at the forward end and provided with two or morelongitudinally projecting radially disposed tenons 0t and preferablywith a keyway a adapted to receive a shaft-engaging key 0, which is alsoengaged by a keyway '6, formed in said section-E, and which ispreferably open at the end. I further construct a cooperating collar B,adapted to receive the end of a section 6 of a power-shaft, which collarB is provided with two or more longitudinally-projectingradially-disposed dovetail tenons 17', adapted to project into recessesa formed by and between the tenons a,.the arc of each of tenons I) beingshorter than the space a into which it projects, whereby it does notfill the same. The tenons of opposite collars, which preferably havetheir edges beveled to form dovetailed joints, may therefore be readilyintroduced into the recesses between the tenons of the respectivelyopposite collars, and a slight partial rotation in opposite directionsof the respective sections of the shaft will cause the opposite tenonsto interlock upon one of their respective edges, leaving a space betweentheir other adjoining edges. These spaces are filled and the opposingtenons further secured in interlocked position by the insertion ofradially-disposed key-wedges d, operating as separated transverseextensions of the adjoining tenons, each of which wedges is preferablyprovided at its outer end with a lip,

-,as at d, preferably beveled downwardly and inwardly on its lower face.The tenons b are also preferably transversely beveled at one of theirupper corners, as at b to admit within the periphery of said collar theheads of said wedges d, the lips d whereof resting upon saidbeveledcorner. The incline formed by said beveled corner 12 is adapted also topermit the introduction of a foreign disengaging wedge or cutting-chiselunder said lip 01, whereby said wedge may, if desired, be pried out orthe head thereof cut 0E and thebody otherwise by any suitable means ormethod removed. Said collar B is also preferably provided with a keyway(2 adapted to receive a shaft-engaging key 0, which is also engaged by akeyway 6 formed in said section a and preferably open at the end; butsaid collars may be secured to the respective sections of shaft by anysuitable means or method within the scope of my said invention.

In operation I preferably first secure the respective collars,preferably by said keys, to their respective sections of the shaft andthen bring them together, end on, into engagement with each other, theends of the shaft abutting against each other, the keyways of therespective sections registering with each other, and the dovetail tenonsof one collar projecting into the dovetail recesses of the opposingcollar. The respective shafts are then given a partial rotation inrespectively opposite directions to effect the interlocking of thetenons of one collar with the tenons of the opposite collar, which arethen further locked in position by driving the key-wedges d from theperiphery into the recesses resulting from the disparity between thewidth of said tenons and of said recesses, such key-wedges crowding theopposing tenons into further engagement and themselves operating aslateral extensions of said tenons to fill said recesses. Said wedges aredesigned to be retained by friction or compression. If desired todisengage them, a foreign disengaging wedge may be inserted under saidlip d to pry said wedge out, or the head of said wedge may be cut offand the remainder bored out or driven into the shaft-keyway and pushedout or removed by any other suitable means or method.

It will be seen that since the opposing edges of the tenons carried bythe collars are beveled the shank of each key-wedge d is correspondinglybeveled, so as to fit perfectly between the edged faces of said tenons.The key-wedges thus assist in completing the dovetailed connectionbetween the collars and the coupling and make it impossible to pull thecollars apart when the key-wedges are in place.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a shaft-coupling the combination of cooperatin g collarsrespectivelysecured to the opposing ends of opposite sections of ashaft, said collars each being provided with longitudinally-projectingdovetail tenons having arcs of less length than the respectivelyintervening spaces, the tenons on one collar being adapted to projectinto the recessed spaces formed by and between the tenons of theopposite collar and to engage the tenons of said opposite collar, asufficient space being left between the edges of said tenons for theintroduction of securing means, and securing means within said space,substantially as described.

2. In a shaft-coupling, the combination of cooperating collarsrespectively secured to the opposing ends of opposite sections of ashaft, said collars being provided with longitudinally projectingradially disposed dovetail tenons, having arcs of less length than therespectively intervening recessed spaces, the

tenons of one collar being adapted to project into recessed spacesformed by and between the tenons of. the opposite collar and to engagethe tenons thereof in interlocked posi tion, means being interposedbetween .one set of contiguous edges of said tenons for securing thesame together, substantially as described.

3. Ashaft-coupling,comprising cooperating collars adapted to receive ashaft, each collar being provided with longitudinally-projectingradially-disposed dovetailed tenons of a less width than the spacesbetween the said tenons on each collar, the tenons of one 001- lar beingadapted to project into the recessed spaces formed between the tenons ofthe opposite collar,but not entirely filling the same, and means forfilling the remainder of said spaces not occupied by said tenons forsecuring the said tenons of the opposing collars in interlockedposition, substantially as described.

4. Ashaft-couplingcomprisingcooperating collars adapted to receive ashaft, each collar being provided with longitudinally-project ingradially-disposed dovetail tenons having arcs of less length than thespaces intervening between the respective tenons of the opposite collar,the tenons of one collar being adapted to projectinto recessed spacesformed between the tenons of the opposite collar and to engage saidtenons of said opposite collar in interlocked position; wedges betweenthe edges of said tenons for securing the tenons of said oppositecollars in interlocked .position, substantially as described.

5. Ashaft-coupling comprising cooperating collars adapted to receive ashaft, each collar being provided with longitudinally-projectingradially-disposed dovetail tenons having arcs of less length than thespaces intervening between the respective tenons of the opposite collar,the tenons of one collar being adapted to project into recessed spacesformed between the tenons of the opposite collar and to engage saidtenons of said opposite collar in interlocked position; radiallydisposed wedges adapted to fill the remaining space between adjoininginterlocked tenons and to secure the same in interlocked position,substantially as described.

6. Ashaft-couplingcomprisingcooperating collars adapted to receive ashaft, each collar being provided with longitudinally-projectingradially-disposed dovetail tenons of less width, respectively than thespaces intervening between the respective tenons of the opposite collar,the tenons of one collar being beveled laterally at one upper corner,the tenons of one collar being adapted to engage and interlock with thetenons of the opposite collar; and key-Wedges for securing said tenonsin interlocked position each formed with a disengaging lip at its upperend, substantially as described.

7 A shaft-coupling comprising cooperating collars secured to the ends ofthe shaft-sections which are to be coupled, the said collars betweensaid collars, substantially as dehaving upon their meeting faces tenonsscribed. 7 10 formed with dovetailed edged faces, key- In testimonywhereof I hereunto affix my wedges having shanks formed with beveledsignature in presence of two witnesses.

5 faces corresponding with the beveled faces of OLE RUDD.

the said tenons, the said wedges fitting be- Witnesses: tween the edgesof the tenons of the cooper- JAMES T. WATSON,

ating collars for completing a dovetail joint PHINEAS AYER.

